Tyler Garwood, from Town Moor, Newcastle, fell ill with a strand of the deadly infection and died in the early hours of Monday.

Sarah Holmes-Carne, principal of Kenton School – where Tyler was a Year 9 pupil – said: "It is with deep sadness we have to announce the sudden death of a Year 9 pupil in the early hours of this morning, April 25 2016.

"The cause of death was a strand of meningitis."

The shocking death came on the day the Government rejected calls from more than 820,000 people for a meningitis B vaccine to made available to all British children.

FACEBOOK/TYLER GARWOOD

BIKER: Tyler was also keen on motorcross

“A vibrant soul every Monday night who will be well remembered”

Newcastle United Foundation Kicks Project

Tributes to the keen goalkeeper – believed to have been 14 – poured in from friends and sports teams on social media.

Newcastle United Foundation Kicks Project tweeted: "Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Tyler Garwood, a vibrant soul every Monday night who will be well remembered. RIP."

Another football team, Throckley Magpies JFC Under 14s, said Tyler was an "integral part of our team" when he played for the club a couple of seasons ago.

In the Facebook post, the club paid tribute to his "cheeky banter" and described Tyler as a "nice lad".

Burradon Juniors Football Club said in a Facebook post: "Devastating news from Team Gosforth u14s, sadly Goalkeeper Tyler Garwood passed away early this morning, Thoughts and prayers with his family, friends and teammates at this very sad time, from everyone connected with Burradon juniors."

A Facebook page set up in his memory has organised a "football walk" for Tyler, encouraging people to pay tribute to the teenager by wearing football clothing on a walk from Blakelaw to Newbiggen Hall on Saturday.

Dr Kirsty Foster, a consultant in health protection at Public Health England, said Tyler's death was a "sad reminder of how devastating this illness can be".

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SCHOOL: Kenton School in Town Moor, Newcastle

The Government rejected calls to extend its meningitis B vaccination programme – currently only available for babies under 12 – to older children on Monday.

MPs debated an extension of the age range after an e-petition signed by more than 820,000 people called for all children under 11 to be given it on the NHS.

But replying for the Government, Health Minister Jane Ellison said: “I’ve been reassured that the programme we have is the right one, targeting the group of children at highest risk of disease and death.”